Cape Town - Shrien Dewani's lawyers showed three video clips in the Western Cape High Court on Thursday to prove their client almost forgot about a meeting to exchange his foreign currency.
Francois van Zyl, for Dewani, was trying to show that murder convicted shuttle taxi driver Zola Tongo was lying about the circumstances of his meeting with their client on November 13, 2010.
Dewani is on trial on a charge of murdering his wife Anni Dewani during their honeymoon in Cape Town.
Tongo, 34, the State's 12th witness, said during cross-examination that he and Dewani agreed to meet at 11am or noon that day to exchange his dollars into rands.
During his evidence-in-chief, Tongo said he was late and Dewani phoned to check where he was. He apparently said he must be quick with the pick-up because his wife was showering or washing.
On Tongo's version, the exchanged money was intended for the hitmen who said they wanted R15,000, not dollars.
Van Zyl said his client would tell the court, if necessary, that the planned meeting was for noon, that he and Anni had enjoyed a late breakfast, and he almost forgot about the meeting.
The court watched footage of the couple leaving their hotel room at 11.13am that day. Both were dressed casually.
Van Zyl said his client was only reminded of the meeting when Tongo sent him a text message and that Dewani did not call Tongo.
“Mr Dewani will say he was at the pool with his wife.”
He said his client changed into jeans for going to the store in town, put UK5000 and his passport in his pocket, and went to meet Tongo.
The court watched a clip of Dewani leaving his room and walking down the corridor at 11.58am.
“I have to put it to you that whole version of yours is just incorrect,” the lawyer said.
Tongo stuck to his version that he and Dewani communicated on the phone and that Dewani went to change dollars, not pounds.
A third video clip was shown of Tongo returning Dewani to the hotel and leaving immediately, just before 1pm.
Van Zyl said this countered Tongo's claims that he and Dewani chatted about the conspiracy to kill his wife Anni inside the car at the hotel.
Tongo replied that he and Dewani chatted on the journey back to the hotel.
Dewani has pleaded not guilty to conspiring to kill his wife. He maintains the couple were hijacked as Tongo was driving them through Gugulethu on November 13, 2010. Her body was found in the abandoned shuttle taxi in Khayelitsha the following day.
Tongo is serving an 18-year jail term. Monde Mbolombo, a hotel receptionist, was granted immunity from prosecution in exchange for testifying against his accomplices.
Xolile Mngeni was serving life in jail for firing the shot that killed Anni. He died in prison from a brain tumour two weeks ago. Mziwamadoda Qwabe is serving a 25-year jail term.
Tongo's cross-examination would resume on Monday.
Deputy Judge President Jeanette Traverso warned the media to give Dewani space after his lawyer complained that photographers had banged on his car window on Thursday morning, causing his client to suffer a panic attack.
“We all want to see justice being done and this kind of behaviour will mean justice is not done,” Traverso warned.
Sapa